FBI Investigating Shooting Death of Tribal Teen

The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs are investigating the shooting death of a Schurz teenager by a Walker River tribal police officer.

Norman Boney Jr., 17, was shot twice by a tribal police officer on the Walker River Paiute Indian Reservation south of Yerington after a confrontation Thursday night, FBI Agency Todd Palmer in Las Vegas said Monday.

The shooting unfolded after Gayle Boney called tribal police seeking help in finding her husband, Norman Boney Sr. She reported that he was drunk, acting crazy and driving around in her truck, Palmer said.

According to the FBI, the officer saw Boney and his son sitting in the truck with the doors open outside the residence.

The father and son verbally confronted and threatened the officer, Palmer said, adding that at one point the teen retrieved a pit bull dog from the home and threatened to turn it lose on the officer.

Boney Jr. allegedly charged the officer and was shot twice after the officer used a stun gun to subdue his father, Palmer said.

The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.

Palmer said the officer involved has been interviewed. His name was not released, and Palmer said he didn't know if he had been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

A man who answered the phone at the Walker River reservation Monday said the tribe would have no comment and referred questions to the FBI.

Palmer said he couldn't say if the teen was armed when he was shot.

He added that investigators will try to determine if the shooting was justified, unjustified, or if there were extenuating circumstances that contributed to it.

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